George Harcourt Vanden-Bampde-Johnstone, 3rd Baron Derwent facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Lord Derwent
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| Born |
George Harcourt Vanden-Bampde-Johnstone
22 October 1899 |
| Died | 13 January 1949 (aged 49) |
| Education | Sandroyd School Charterhouse School |
| Alma mater | Merton College, Oxford |
| Political party | Liberal |
| Spouse(s) |
Countess Sabine Czaykowska Iliesco
(m. 1929; |
| Parent(s) | Hon. Edward Vanden-Bempde-Johnstone |
| Relatives | Patrick Vanden-Bempde-Johnstone, 4th Baron Derwent (brother) |
George Harcourt Vanden-Bampde-Johnstone, 3rd Baron Derwent (born October 22, 1899 – died January 13, 1949) was an important British writer, diplomat, and politician. He was a member of the Liberal Party. He was also known as "Peter" to his family and friends.
Early Life and Education
George Harcourt Vanden-Bampde-Johnstone was born in London, England, on October 22, 1899. His father was Hon. Edward Henry Vanden-Bempde-Johnstone. His mother was Hon. Evelyn Mary Agar-Ellis.
In 1929, George inherited the title of Baron Derwent when his uncle, Francis, passed away. This made him the 3rd Baron Derwent.
He went to Sandroyd School and then Charterhouse School. Later, he studied at Merton College, Oxford University. While at Oxford, he won the Newdigate Prize in 1920 for his poetry.
Career and Public Service
After finishing his studies at Oxford, George joined the diplomatic service. This meant he worked for his country in other nations. He served as an honorary attaché in cities like Warsaw, Brussels, and Madrid starting in 1929.
When World War II began, he was in Berne, Switzerland. In 1942, he returned to the United Kingdom. He then served in the Royal Air Force until 1944.
Lord Derwent was also active in politics. He was a member of the Liberal Party. He was the president of the Yorkshire Liberal Federation. He also helped lead the British Liberal International Council. He was a founder and member of the council of the Georgian Group, which works to preserve historic buildings. He was also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, an honor for people who have made achievements in arts, manufactures, and commerce.
Writer and Poet
George Derwent was a talented writer and poet. He wrote under his own name and sometimes used the pen name George Vanden. He published two books of poetry. The first, Fifty Poems, came out in 1931. His second book, Before Zero Hour, was published in 1943.
Personal Life
On December 21, 1929, Lord Derwent married Countess Sabine Czaykowska Iliesco. She was the daughter of General D. Iliesco, who was a high-ranking military officer in Romania. Lord Derwent once said that his hobbies included "Fishing, golf, and thinking the twentieth century is just wonderful."
Sadly, Lady Derwent passed away in Berne on May 18, 1941.
In November 1948, it was announced that Lord Derwent was engaged to Mlle. Carmen Gandarillas. She was the daughter of José A. Gandarillas, who worked at the Chilean Embassy in London. However, Lord Derwent died before they could get married.
He passed away in Paris, France, on January 13, 1949, at the age of 49. He had been on his way back from a health trip to Switzerland. Since he and Lady Derwent did not have any children, his younger brother, Patrick, inherited his title.
